Image forming system, diagnostic apparatus, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The server includes: an identification unit configured to identify that a location of a defect is in a first range including a plurality of replaceable components in an image forming apparatus, and in a case where it is possible to identify that the location of the defect is in a second range included in the first range, further identify the second range; and a reporting unit configured to, in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, report to a display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating the second range, and in a case where the identification unit does not identify the second range, report to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating the first range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a server capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus,
 the image forming apparatus comprising:
 a collection unit configured to collect data related to operation of the image forming apparatus; and 
 a transmission unit configured to transmit the data to the server, and 
   the server comprising:
 an identification unit configured to detect a defect occurring in the image forming apparatus based on the data, identify that a location of the defect is in a first range, which is a range including a plurality of replaceable components included in the image forming apparatus, based on the data, and in a case where it is possible to identify that the location of the defect is in a second range, which is included in the first range, further identify the second range; and 
 a reporting unit configured to, in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, report to a display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating that there is a possibility that the defect is in the second range, and in a case where the identification unit does not identify the second range and identifies the first range, report to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating there is a possibility that the defect is in the first range. 
   
     
     
         2 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in a case where the identification unit does not identify the second range and identifies the first range, the reporting unit reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays an order of replacement of replaceable components included in the first range.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, the reporting unit reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays an order of replacement of replaceable components included in the second range.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, the reporting unit further reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating there is a possibility that the defect is in the first range. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, the reporting unit reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays an order of replacement of replaceable components included in the second range and an order of replacement of replaceable components included in the first range but not included in the second range.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first range includes the plurality of replaceable components and is also one replaceable component of the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming system according to  claim 6 , wherein
 in a case where the identification unit does not identify the second range and identifies the first range, the reporting unit reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays that the one replaceable component is to be replaced, or the reporting unit reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays that in a case where the defect is not resolved even when the replaceable components included in the first range are replaced according to an order of replacement, the one replaceable component is to be replaced.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of replaceable components included in the first range are driven by the same driving source.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of replaceable components included in the first range include a replaceable component that forms a black image on a photosensitive body and transfers the black image to an intermediate transfer body and a replaceable component that includes the intermediate transfer body.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the data is data indicating a relationship between an operation sound of the image forming apparatus and operation states of a plurality of driving sources included in the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The image forming system according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the defect detected by the identification unit is occurrence of an abnormal sound.   
     
     
         12 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the data is read data obtained by reading a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The image forming system according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the defect detected by the identification unit is an image defect of the image formed on the sheet.   
     
     
         14 . A diagnostic apparatus comprising:
 a collection unit configured to collect data related to operation of an image forming apparatus; and   an identification unit configured to detect a defect occurring in the image forming apparatus based on the data, identify that a location of the defect is in a first range, which is a range including a plurality of replaceable components included in the image forming apparatus, based on the data, and in a case where it is possible to identify that the location of the defect is in a second range, which is included in the first range, further identify the second range; and   a reporting unit configured to, in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, report to a display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating that there is a possibility that the defect is in the second range, and in a case where the identification unit does not identify the second range and identifies the first range, report to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating there is a possibility that the defect is in the first range.   
     
     
         15 . The diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein
 in a case where the identification unit does not identify the second range and identifies the first range, the reporting unit reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays an order of replacement of replaceable components included in the first range.   
     
     
         16 . The diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein
 in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, the reporting unit reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays an order of replacement of replaceable components included in the second range.   
     
     
         17 . The diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein
 in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, the reporting unit further reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating there is a possibility that the defect is in the first range.   
     
     
         18 . The diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein
 in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, the reporting unit reports to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays an order of replacement of replaceable components included in the second range and an order of replacement of replaceable components included in the first range but not included in the second range.   
     
     
         19 . The diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the first range includes the plurality of replaceable components and is also one replaceable component of the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . An image forming apparatus including a diagnostic apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:
 a collection unit configured to collect data related to operation of the image forming apparatus; and   an identification unit configured to detect a defect occurring in the image forming apparatus based on the data, identify that a location of the defect is in a first range, which is a range including a plurality of replaceable components included in the image forming apparatus, based on the data, and in a case where it is possible to identify that the location of the defect is in a second range, which is included in the first range, further identify the second range; and   a reporting unit configured to, in a case where the identification unit identifies the second range, report to a display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating that there is a possibility that the defect is in the second range, and in a case where the identification unit does not identify the second range and identifies the first range, report to the display apparatus such that the display apparatus displays information indicating there is a possibility that the defect is in the first range.